TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES

Monday, September 24, 2012

So,
tomorrow is my birthday. 59th or as I like to say, I am living my 60th so I have been trying to keep up the appearance of having all my marbles,
and that is hard work but important work…at least hopefully my kids will be less
embarrassed of me in public.

“It's
paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the
idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone,” says, Andy Rooney longtime 60 Minutes
journalist. Then, this morning on one of the talk shows I
watched as one of their guests had Botox injected into her hands to take away
the “granny” look. Don’t think I haven’t thought about that myself as well. I also read that 60 is the new 40…wish I had
known that when I was in my forties because at that birthday I felt the reverse.

I have lived a wonderful life up to now.
And even if the future did start looking grim the past will be able to keep me going
for sure.

The plans for my big day, retail therapy
always seems to work. Absolutely avoid all mirrors until I feel
comfortable in this new/old skin. Or park the ole bifocals might work too.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

This morning a chipmunk made its way into the house. I was
sitting on the sofa and in it runs through the living room...I scream for
Torrie Jo. Sophie, the Min. Schnauzer, is just barking away. To Jo traps the chip in the far
corner fire place wall and I am still screaming next thing I hear is To Jo’s
deep grueling/growl and a meager little chirp out the Chip... and out of
my slightly opened eyes, because I had them shut, here comes To Jo with a very
limp and dead Chip swinging loosely from her mouth. She then drops the dead
thing at my feet, which rendered me speechless. Larry runs bravely AWAY. He
said he was going to get something to pick it up, but I knew that he was really
freaked out too and frightened to death himself. Larry came back after
what seemed forever, with the big snow shovel, barbeque prong, and a rag, I ‘m
thinking, what a brave man I married (not). To Jo got a treat and I won't ever
leave the screen door open again (maybe).The end!

Friday, July 27, 2012

We were getting ready
to leave for an extended time and I had not been grocery shopping,in order too empty out
the kitchen. So our food supply was very low…what
to make for supper? Looking in the
pantry I noticed I had a 10oz. can of chicken hmm. After Goggling for recipes meant for canned chicken,
nothing sounded like it tasted worthy of this lovely can… therefore the most delectable
recipe was born where Chicken-Pot Pie meets Pasta Primavera with a twist.

Preheat oven to 350

Use square casserole.8x8

2 cups of uncooked pasta what ever you have on hand...I used Orecchiette to
be cooked with less 2min. time because the baking will cook the rest.

1cup Panko

1 10 0z can of chicken (Wal-Mart brand the best)

*******

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4cup chopped celery

1/4cup diced carrots

1/4cup peas

1/4 cup butter or olive oil or half of each 3 TB to
sauté veggies and 1 TB for Panko topping

1 clove of minced garlic

*******

2 TB flour

*******

1cup of chicken broth

1/2cup milk

1/4 cup mayonnaise(2TB works too)

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 grated cheese

Salt and pepper

*******

Open can of chicken rinse and drain

Sauté the next 6(six) ingredients with 3 TB
butter/oil

Add 2TB flour to make roux, blend adding the next 5(five)
liquid and cheese ingredients... If too thick add more broth or milk or even
pasta water. This is not thick but should thicken some with the flour.

Add chicken just as it comes out of the can (don’t
treat it like tuna salad) to the creamed veggies. Set aside

Brown the Panko with the 1TB butter left. I threw-in
parsley, Lawry’s salt, pepper (whatever you like here for some pzazz)

Layer: pasta then creamed veggies an top with
butter and browned Panko.